Warriors Announce Jimmy Butler Update After Injury Scare

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Dec 1, 2025 4:54 PM ET

Jimmy Butler had to step it up for the Golden State Warriors on Saturday as they took on the New Orleans Pelicans without Steph Curry. The former back-to-back MVP was sidelined due to a quad injury, and it was Butler who led Golden State to a 104-96 victory over the Pelicans.

Butler flirted with a triple-double with 24 points on 7-of-15 shooting, eight rebounds and 10 assists, while also knocking down 10 out of his 14 attempts from the charity stripe. The Warriors improved to 11-10 after taking down New Orleans in a home game at Chase Center.

Butler, however, had an injury scare on Saturday, which put a bit of a cloud over his status for Tuesday’s highly anticipated matchup against the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10)© William Liang-Imagn Images

Butler took a hard fall in the game against New Orleans. He was seen grimacing on the floor after the incident, but was able to stay in the game and play through the knock. After the win, the six-time All-Star admitted that he was hurting but was quick to play down the issue. Butler was adamant that he would be ready to play on Tuesday against the Thunder.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr provided an update on Butler’s status on Monday. This is after the 6-foot-6 forward missed Monday’s practice due to the injury scare. The good news, however, is that Butler is still expected to be available for the OKC game.

According to Warriors reporter Nick Friedell, Kerr announced on Monday that he expects Butler to play against the Thunder on Tuesday.

This is a significant development for the Warriors. Curry will not play against Oklahoma City as he continues to nurse a quad contusion and a muscle strain, which means that Butler will need to carry a heavier load again.

It is also worth noting that, according to Kerr, Al Horford is doubtful to play on Tuesday due to sciatica. Seth Curry, Steph Curry’s brother, however, is expected to make his Warriors debut against OKC.

The Warriors face a tough test against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the 2025 NBA champs. The Thunder are the hottest team in the league right now. They are riding a 12-game winning streak and enter Tuesday’s contest with a 20-1 record.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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